Glass-finishing apparatus.



No. 765,119. PATENTED JULY 12, 1904.

F. WOODRUFF. GLASS PINISHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED HOY. 14, 1000.

I0 IODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

o mvsnn'on No. 765,119. PATBNT'EU JULY 12, 1904.

Y P. WOODRUFF.

GLASS HNISHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED XOV. 14., 1900.

I0` KODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wn'nsaszs .y I l Z7 f PATENTED JULY 12, 1904.

F. WOODRUFF. GLASS FINISHING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATIOH FILED NOV. 14, 1900. l0 IODBL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

1'. WOODRUFF.

GLASS FNISHING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATIOI Hmm nov.14, 1900'.

I0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

PATENTBD JULY 12, 1904.

UNETED STATES Patented Juiy 1 2, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

-- lFRANK WoonRUFF, -oF ROCHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

GLASS'HFINISHING APPARATUS.

To alli/:Imm muy erinnern,.-

Be it known that -I, FRANK lVoonnuFF, of Rochester, in the county ot Beaver and State 'of 'Pennsylvania;:have invented a n ewand useful Improvement in Glass-FinishingApparatus, of which the following is a full, clear` and 'exact descripi ion, Vreference being had to' the accompanying drawmgsyformmg part ot' this specification, in Whichshowing my improved apparatusin connec- Figure 1 is a plan view, partly broke'a'way,

, Ation with an` automatic blowing-machine, .Fig 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away,"

showingthe taking-out devices in connection 'with a part of the automatic blowing-machine. Fig. 3 is a similar vlew showing a part of the;

' and pipe-cleaning apparatus.

taking-out devices' and a portion of lthe crackling-oil apparatus. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan View of he apparatus, showing the con.

'neetionsfor driving the .two rotary carriers;A

and Fig. 5 is an enlargedside elevation showing'the automatic cracking-oli'-mechanism.`

3.' by the skilled operator from the automatic M v invention relates tothe manufacture of hollow articles of glassware', and more particularly to the finishing ofarticles blown in an `automatic blowing-machine of the Owens type and tooth'erstepsconnected with the operation of such'or other machines. Heretofore in using machines of this character vthe blowpipe; with the blownarti'cle upon it, 'is removed' blowing-machine and the bottom of the hollowarticle is set up, the centralportion of A the bottom being forced up to give the desired shape. The article is then cooled somewhat, and another operator separates the ,article from 'the blowpi-pe,` andthe pipe, 'with the refuse 'glass uponit-` i's then taken by another operator andtheglass removed therefrom by hand. r The blowpipe is then'readyfor reuse. These operations require the servicesoffour,

'operators for onel shop, and the quality of' the product depends largely upon. the skill and care of these workmen.

' My invention is designed to provide apparatus which Will carry -out these several steps automatically, thus doing away with hand labor and cheapenmg and ,increasmg'the output and improving the facility of operations.

for automatically removing the articles from a blowing-machine, in devices for automatically setting up the bottoms of the article, in apparatus for'automatica-lly cracking off the article from the pipe, and in mechanism for automatically removing the surplus glass left upon the blowpipe.

1t further consists in the various combina tions and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter more fully described, and sctfortlr in the claims.

blowing-machine of the well-,known Owens type, B my automatic takingoff and setting-v 'up device, and C my automatic cracking-od' vEach of these contains a rotary carrier by which the pipes are supported, the' machine A being contin- .uously driven at slow. speed, while device B and apparatus C are rotated intermittently, the apparatus C being moved while device B is at rest, and vice versa. f l show7 the bloxvingmaehine as having the usual vertical shaft 2, provided with two fivearmed spiders 3 3, having spring-catches 4, which,- yieldingly retain the blowpipes in vertical position during the revolution of the shaft. The shaft is revolved clockwise, and the operator stands at the point marked X.

A bracket-arm 5 extends laterally from the frame of the blowing-machine and carries the cylindrical bearing 6 for the vertical shaft 7 'of the take-off device.V This cylindrical bearing is hollow and provided in its bottom with a hardened-steel stepfor the lower end of the shaft, the step being centrally perforated in registry with a ccmpessed-air-supply pipe 8, leading upwardly through the bracket. ;The lowerportion of the shaft 7 is made hollow with an open lower end and-is lprovided with "a lateral hole opening into va :surrounding reservoir 9. The upper end ofthe bearing 6 and both ends of the reservoir are provided with suitable stuiiing-boxes, and', the air is led from the reservoir through branchpipes 10 and flexible hose connections 11 to valvechambers 12, bored in the sidefportions of the The invention therefore consists in devices I n the drawings, A represents anautomatic i the vertical adjustment of the motor-carrying Y table. and the fluid-supply is regulated by suitable valves or gates 16. I

The valve-chamber 1'2 has a cylindrical bore and contains a vertically-moving plungervalve having two narrow annular ports 17 and 18, with a longer annular port 19 between them. ln the sides of thspiston-valve beyond the outer ports are cut longitudinal keyways 20, leading from the-ports and acting as exhaust-ports when the device is in operation. The stem 21 of each piston-valve extends down through a bearing 22,'secured to plate 23, ad- Qustably held to the shaft 7 by set-screws 24, and each stem is provided with an adjustable post 25, arranged to bear upon a camway 26, extending in the arc of a circle about the axis of the shaft 7. Each valve-stem is normally forced downwardly by spi ral springs 27, bearing upon the collar 28 of the stem and against the lower end of the valve-chamber.

The piston-rods of the motive cylinders :carry vertically-extending supports 29, each of which has at its top and bottom laterallymovable spring-clips 30 with spring-pressed pins 31, which may be opened by curved levers 32, the outer forked ends of which engage heads on the pins,as shown. The inner ends of these levers are arranged to engage a stop 33 whenl y l the piston of the motive cylinder is retracted to ing 34', mounted on with the attached article, from the blowing-machine to the'device B. To hold each vertical support 29 and guideit in proper position, rod 34,.which is guided within a tubular beara bracket on the motive cylinder., In order to set up the base of the article after it is thus automatically taken from the blowing-machine, I provide the plate 23 with five depending arms,on each of which f rests a forming-plate 35, which is slightly' higher in the center than at the periphery.

The stem 36 of this plate extends downwardly through a ;uiding-hole in the arm, and the plate sheld down by a button 37 on the end of the stem, which passes beneath a cam or hold-down guide 38 just before this'arm-comes into line with the arm of the blowing-machine. A spiral spring 39, held by the depending cap 40, presses upwardly against the larger portion of the stem, and

as the article is taken from the blowing-machine the button passing out from under the cam releases the stem, and the spring Jforces th'e forming-plate up against the bottom of the article which registers with as shown in dotted lines in Fig'. 2. This forms or sets up the bottom of the heated article, and as the device B revolves counter- `blow pipe,

I secure to it a radially-extendlng clockwise the blowpipes, with the articles thereon, are carried around step-by step.

The next operation is that of cracking off the article from the blowpipe, and this is done by the apparatus C, which rotates clockwise intermittently and automatically takes the with the formed-up article thereon, from the device B. The supporting-brackets and clips of device B are placed between the planes of the spiders 3 of machine A, as shown' in Fig. 2, and the five-armed spiders-41, secured to the vertical shaft 42 of apparatus C, are in planes above and below the clips ofdevice B, as shown in Fig. 3. The blowpipe is supported in device B by an annular projection 43 above the projection 44, which supports the blowpipe in the blowing apparatus, and the lower arm of apparatus C supports the annulus 44, while the spring-clips on both arms 41 hold the pipe in place. The apparatus C is carried on another bracket, 46, projecting from the base of the blowing-machine, and the V-shaped openings of the clips engage the blowpipes of the device B, as shown in Fig. 1` and Fig. 3. A s the locking-pins of device B are retracted by the stops when the motive cylinders pull the blowpipe into place and as device B is at rest while apparatus C is moving, the arms of apparatus C withdraw the blowpipe from the clips of device B, as sh'own in Fig. 1. Cmove around the circle adampened wiper 47 presses against the neck of the arti ele,as shown in Fig. 5, so as to wet its heated neck. 'l'his wiper consists of a-suitable projecting wick which extendsthrough ahorizontal chamber 48 and is moistened by liquid-cup 49, which gives a constant supply of the liquid. Beside the wiper is mounted a vertical rock-shaft 50, having secured thereto an adjustable collar 51, to which Ais secured one end of a spiral spring 52, the other end of which is secured to the bracket which carries the apparatus C.' To the upper end o f the rock-shaft are secured an arm 53 and a shorter arm 54, the shorter arm extending in front of the longer, as shown in Fig. 1. 'As the blowpipe passes the wiper it strikes the shorter arm and rocks thc shaft, and as it passes the shorter arm the shaft is released and the spiral spring will cause the longer arm to strike the blowpipe with suficient force to loosen the article and separate it therefrom. The article drops at this point into any suitable receptacle or into a conduit through the floor which leads to the leer, and the blowpipe passes on until it reaches the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, where it is given a series of sharp tapanother article.

In Fig.-4 the black circles and arrows indi- As the arms of apparatus IOO IIO

cate the successive positions of the blowpipe with the glass thereon and show the course of the blowpipethrough the apparatus.

To give the apparatus an intermittent' motion in opposite directions, I provide small pinions 56 and 57, which mesh with a large toothed wheel 58 upon'the blowing-machine. Each of these pinions is provided withacrankpin, from which pins the adjustable connecting-rods o9 and 60 lead to the pivoted pawlcarriers 61 and 62. These pawl-carriers are pivoted about the shafts o' devices B and C and carry pivoted pawls 63, engaging ratchetwheels 64, secured to the said shafts. The pawl-holders are pivoted to the opposite sides of the two shafts, respectively, so that the shafts are revolved in opposite directions. The small gear-wheels and thev large gearwheels are made in the proportion of tive-to one, so that the small gears rotate five times to one rotation of the large gear-wheel, and the crank-pins are arranged so that the apparatus C is given motion while device' B is stopped, and vice versa.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The gatherer takes the blowpipe with a gathering of plastic glass thereon and, having shar .-,d it, places the blowpipe in the blowing-machine at the point marked X. The mold closes about the glass, and the article is formed during the revolution of this machine, and

- when the arm carrying the blowpipe registers pipe and allows `itlto with the arm of device B the blowpipe and article are' automatically removed from the blowing device to device B, the valve-stem of the motive cylinder riding 'up thc cam to admit fluid at one nd of the cylinder and advance the support to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2. As the clips of device B engage the pipe the valve-stem` reaches -the end of the cani and is forced down by the spring, admitting air to the other end of the cylinder and drawing the support and blowpipe back to the position -shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. As device B moves the pipe and article in the circular path' the bottom plate 35 is automatically rele sed and forced up against the article to shape it properly. The article then passes around until its support registers with the apparatus C, when the arms of this :apparatus pull the pipe from the clips of device B and move the pipe in the circular path of this third apparatus. A s the pipe is moved in this path the neck of the tumbler o r other, article is wetted by the wiper, and the striker then hits the pipe a blow, which separates the tumbler from the drop. The arms then carry the pipe to the other side of the apparatus', where the pneumatic hammers strike the glass and remove it from the pipe, thus preparing it for the gatherer.

The advantages of my invention .will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The services of four workmen are done away with, the

output is increased,'and the quality of the product is 'better and made more uniform. The apparatus forming my invention carries out the operations of taking the pipe from the blowing-machine, setting up the bottom, and cracking oli' and removing the surplus glass automatically and with great speed and economy.

The apparatus is especially applicable for use in connection with automatic blowing-machines, but may be used in other connections,

such as in hand-blowing, in which case the operator would place the blowpipe, with the article thereon, in the device B, which would not then need the automatic take-olf mcclian` ism. The several features of my invention may be used either in conjunction with each other or separately, and I intend to so cover them, and many variations may be made in the form and arrangement of the apparatus without departing from my invention.

I cla1in 1. In glass-finishing apparatus, a device arranged to receive a blowpipe with a heated blown-glass article thereon, a set-up device, and mechanism arranged. to actuate the same to shape the bottom of the blown article after it has been received by said first-named device; substantially as described.

2. In glass-finishing apparatus, a movablecarrier arranged to support a blowpipe and article thereon, and a wiper arranged to contact with the neck portion of thearticle; substantially as described.

3. In glass-finishing apparatus.a movable carrier arranged to -support a blowpipe, a Wiper arranged to dampen the neck of the hot` article on the blowpipe, and astrikerarranged to tap the pipe; substantially as described.

4. The combination of a support for a blowpipe, and a tapping device arranged to re` move the surplus glass from the pipe; sub-v stantially as described. 5. In glass-finishing apparatus,ablowpipe support, a wiper arranged to contact with the blown article on the pipe, and a striker arranged to tap the olowpipe todetach the article; substantially as described.

IOO

lIO

6. In glass-finishing apparatus, a movable -carrier arranged to support 'a blowpipe, a

wiper arranged to contact with the article, a striker arranged to tap the blowpipe to detach the blown article from the pipe, and a.

tapping device arranged to dislodge the surplus glass rorn the pipe; substantially as de-v scribed.

7. In glass-finishing apparatus, the combination of a blowing-machine, a rotary carrier adjacent thereto, connections between the blowing-machine and carrier for moving the carrier intermittently, and power mechanism thereon arranged to remove the blowpipe described.

8. The combination of a blowing-machine,

from the blowing-machine; substantially as blowingmachineand an automatic a'rnvable carrier adjacent thereto, a take-ofi` device on the' carrier arranged to 'remove the plowpipe with the article thereon from the set-up device 'arranged to shape the bottoni Qi' the blown article after it has been removed from the blowl ing-machinean'd while retained by the take-ofi" as described. '9. A-rotary carrier'havinga plurality of motive cylinders thereon, each of said 'cylinders being connected to take-olf mechanism ardevice; substantially -,r."angc dto removethe blowpipefrom theblow- 'ing-machine; 'substantially as described.

10.'.A rotary carrier having a plurality of take-off devices arranged to seize and remove .the blowpipe froma'blowing-machine, a mo- "tive cylinder for each ofsaid-takefoftdevicea and `automatic valveme'chanism for eac 'said cylinders; substantiallyas described.

l1 Of '-1-1; Inglass-iinishing apparatus, a blowing- -3 machine, mechanism for moving the same con-.

tinuously,;a takeoff, device, and connections i between 'the blowingmachine and take-olf de-V vice arranged to move the latter device intermittently; substantially as described. 12. in .glasslfinishing apparatus, a rotary carrier having a'plurality of blowpipe-sup-- ports, a plurality of spring-actuated bottom plates, anu a plurality of takeoff devices having'actuating motivecylnders; s libstantially A as described.

' 13. In glassefinishing apparatus, Aan endless carrier having a 4series. of'motivecylinders thereon.' each of said cylinders having a pipe'- carr'ier -securedto the piston-rod; -substan-I tial-ly as described.-

carrier having a plurality.' of motvecylinders,

d' the article,

14. In glass-'finishing apparatus, a lrotaryl a blowpipe-s'upport carried on the piston-ro of each cylinder, and spring-clips mounted on the supports and arranged to engage thebl0w ripe;

substantially as described. 15. The combinationof a blowing-machine,

' 0f a rotary carrier adjacent thereto, mechan;

:the same intermittently,

ism for movingthc sameinterrnittently, a plu# ality'of motive cylinders thereon, each having a pipe-support, clips on the pipefsupports,

and a device forope'ning the clips as the pipe is withdrawn from the blowingmachinc sub- Stantially as described.

16.-, A. rotary'carrier, mechanism for moving a plurality of motive cylinders thereon, a pip'esupport secured toA the movable element of each cylinder, springe 'ing-the clips, and a' stop arranged to actuate clips on the support, lever mechanism for openhand.

the lever mechanism when the pipe is moved tqivard the center of the machinc;substant1ally as'described.

17. In glass-finishing apparatus, a Vertical shaft, an annular plate secured thereto and vertically adjustable on the shaft, and springpressed bottom plates carried by the annular plate; substantially as described. i

18. in glass-finishing apparatus, a vertical shaft, an annular plate secured to and rotatable therewith, and adjustable shaft, motive cylinders mounted on the plate, and take-oii` devices connected to the cylinders; substantially as described.

19. In glass-finishing apparatus, a carrier arranged to support a off device arranged to feed a small amount of liquid to the neck of the blown article on the blowpipe preparatory to cracking off the'article; substantially as described.

20. In glass-finishing apparatus, an endless carrier arranged to support a blowpipe, a

spring-actuated rock-shaft having a striker arranged'to detach the article from the blowpipe, and an arm on the shaft arranged to contact with the blowpipe to actuate the striker;

substantially as described. S21. In glass-finishing apparatus; a take-off device arranged to remove the pipe from a blowing-machine, a crack-olf apparatus arranged to take'the pipe from the take-off device, and mechanism for actuating the takeoiiand crack-utf devices intermittently; substantially' as described. l '22, "In glassfinishin9 apparatus, a blowing device, a take-off device arranged to remove the'blowpipe from the blowing-machine, and

having mechanism for shaping the bottom of another apparatus arranged to remove the blowpipe from the take-ofi` device, and crack-cti' mechanism in connection with the said apparatus; substantially as described.

23. The: combination with a continuouslyrotating blowing-machine, of two finishing devices arranged to successively engage the blowpipes and carry them, and mechanism for rotating the said two devices intermittently and alternately in relation with each other;

substantially as described. f

' In testimonywhereof I have hereunto set my 'l FRANK WOODRUFF.

j yWitnesses:

- H. P. HARTLEY,

MARTIN' WAGGQNEP..

vertically on the blowpipe, and a crack- 

